Re-Elect
Mary Chaffee
BREWSTER SELECT BOARD
- Experienced Public Servant
- U.S. Navy Veteran
- Registered Nurse
- Proven Leader
- Innovative Problem Solver
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“Serving on a Select Board, even in a small town like Brewster, is a difficult job with complex legal, financial, public safety, contracting, asset protection, and licensing authority responsibilities. I’m experienced, effective and qualified for this challenging role.”
–Mary Chaffee
Mary Chaffee has spent her life in public service–as a Navy nurse and an elected official serving Brewster. She’s also a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, artist, baker, quilter, community volunteer, and open water swimmer.
– Mary’s love for Cape Cod was instilled by her family in childhood, as they introduced her to the Cape’s beauty at an early age.
– Raised in Western Massachusetts, Mary’s connection to Cape Cod deepened when her family relocated to the area during her high school years, sparking a lifelong love of the Cape.
– At UMass Amherst, Mary earned degrees in nursing and public health.
– Mary financed her education working as a Yarmouth lifeguard, a nurses aide at Cape Cod Hospital, doing beverage sales at the Cape Cod Coliseum, waitressing, coaching swimming and diving, selling tickets at the Cape Cod Mall Cinema, and babysitting.
– Mary’s husband Don was a Harley-Davidson mechanic who still holds a long-distance motorcycle riding record. He’s an emergency physician, lawyer, woodworker, and retired Navy Vice Admiral. Don attended the Massachusetts Police Academy and was a Wellfleet special police officer.
– Mary has three grown children: Chris–a former Army Ranger, Sandra–a business manager, and Thomas–a U.S. Marine, as well as three grandchildren.
– Driven by a desire to serve her nation, Mary joined the U.S. Navy after completing nursing school, serving for 27 years.
– Throughout her naval career, Mary excelled in various roles, including critical care nursing, education, policy analysis, and leadership, earning promotions and accolades for her exemplary service.
– Mary retired with the rank of Captain.
– Mary interned in the Capitol Hill office of U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye writing legislation.
–She also served as a policy analyst attached to the Pentagon.
–Mary earned a masters degree focused on health policy and a law degree from UMass Dartmouth School of Law.
– Mary was a nationally prominent nurse leader. She was a sought-after public speaker and published dozens of articles and book chapters.
–Mary was thanked by President George W. Bush for her service after 9/11 and received an honorary doctorate from UMass Amherst for her nursing leadership.
– Mary served Brewster on the Board of Health for 7 years protecting the environment, water resources and the public’s health.
–She has been elected twice to the Brewster Select Board and served as its chair during the pandemic.
–Mary represents Brewster as the town’s Delegate to the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates – the Cape’s legislature.
– Protect and preserve Brewster’s water resources and open space.
– Promote sustainability through energy reduction.
– Shape the Sea Camps’ future so everyone in the community can enjoy great amenities within a responsible financial framework.
– Produce fiscally sustainable municipal budgets and continue the Town’s strong financial performance.
– Maximize revenue opportunities, grant funding and partnerships to reduce taxpayer costs.
– Pursue responsible actions that create housing opportunities.
– Carry out a feasibility study to determine actual cost estimates of building a multi-generational community center at the Sea Camps Bay property, allowing voters to determine the best path forward.
– Continue constructive public engagement so Brewster residents play an influential role guiding the town’s future.
– Optimize Recycling Center traffic flow and logistics
– Consider policy and decisions with Brewster’s coastal small-town, historic character in mind.
– Continue to provide excellent government, recreation and cultural services for Brewster residents.
– Support families with young children with targeted assistance to help them meet family needs.
– At a record-setting 2021 town meeting, Brewster voted to acquire the former Cape Cod Sea Camps.
– The Select Board spent 9 months working to negotiate a purchase for the lowest possible cost to taxpayers.
– Mary helped shape the proposed Sea Camps plans in her roles on the Select Board and the Bay Property Planning Committee.
– The plans were created with robust community input and reflect Brewster’s values.
– The proposed plans will be voted on at Brewster Town Meeting, May 11, 2024.
– Brewster opened its highly acclaimed dog park in 2022 with fenced areas for large and small dogs.
– Mary worked to create this park for nearly a decade, and played a role in securing $250,000 in grant funding for design and construction.
– In 2023 Brewster opened the Cape’s first municipal swimming pool at the former Sea Camps Bay property.
– Swimming lessons, lap swim, and aqua aerobics classes were offered–hours and programs will expand in 2024.
– Using a membership fee model, the pool broke even in its first year.
– Brewster is in a strong financial position. Indicators include:
– Brewster has made substantial progress in creating community housing. The Select Board and Town housing leaders supported repurposing a shuttered nursing home into Serenity at Brewster apartments, creating 30 Brewster Woods apartments, and plans for 45 homes at Spring Rock Village.
– The Select Board also supported grants to help homeowners make critical home repairs, and the 2023 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) bylaw amendments.
– Brewster has been a leader in reducing plastic waste. The Town installed hydration stations (water-bottle filling stations with bubblers) to encourage people to use re-usable bottles rather than buying single-use plastic bottles).
– Brewster has banned plastic bags, some single-use plastic water bottles, and nip bottles–all generate waste and require fossil fuels during production.
–Brewster earned “Green Community” status in 2020. The Town has hired an energy manager, purchased hybrid vehicles, installed solar arrays, completed energy upgrades in several Town buildings, and established an Energy and Climate Action Committee. Green burials are available at Brewster Memorial Cemetery.
–Mary coordinated “Drink Brewster Tap” to encourage residents and visitors to enjoy Brewster’s award-winning tap water rather than buying water in disposable containers.
–The education campaign included messaging about the exorbitant cost of single-use disposable water bottles and the benefits of drinking Brewster’s excellent tap water.
–Brewster opened First Light Beach in 2022 at the former Cape Cod Sea Camps Bay property.
–The Brewster Department of Public Works repurposed old tennis courts into a fully permitted beach parking area in 24 days so Brewster residents could enjoy the beach the summer after the Town’s purchase.
–In 2018 acute financial issues were exposed requiring immediate action by the Select Board just after Mary was first elected.
–Within 2 years, a new Town Administrator (Peter Lombardi) and Finance Director (Mimi Bernardo) were hired, a full review of the Town’s books was done by an outside firm, corrective actions were taken, and the State Department of Revenue commended Brewster for requesting a review.
–A strong finance team now guides Brewster’s budget and finance activities including the Finance Director, Town Management, Treasurer/Collector, Deputy Assessor, Select Board, Finance Committee and Audit Committee.
–Brewster won an unprecedented 3 awards for government excellence at the 2024 MMA annual conference.
–Brewster won 1st place for “Best Town Website” and the “Municipal Innovation Award” for its plastic-reducing hydration station project. Brewster also took 3rd place for “Best Town Report.”
–Brewster’s public water supply has won many awards including being named the 7th best-tasting water in the U.S., “Best Drinking Water in New England,” and “Best-tasting Water in Massachusetts.”
–Mary helped design Brewster’s new website that launched in 2023. The website is more user friendly, makes finding information easier, and the platform is more compatible with mobile devices.
–Thoughtful planning, with community input and town meeting support, has brought about improvements in Brewster including:
–Brewster government exemplifies great teamwork. Close collaboration among town departments, leaders and the Cape’s legislators means savings and great results for Brewster residents.
–The Brewster Select Board voted in 2021 to sue to stop Eversource from spraying herbicides along its rights-of-way in Brewster to protect the region’s water supply and local environment.
–Brewster is the only town on Cape Cod to take legal action to attempt to stop Eversource’s herbicide spraying.
–Brewster provided essential public services while acting to protect the public’s health.
–Innovative actions allowed Brewster to hold public meetings safely with new technology and safe Town Meetings at Whitecaps ball field.
–When COVID tests and vaccines were in short supply, the Select Board advocated to the Governor for more supplies for Cape Cod.
–About 35% of Brewster has been permanently protected by the Town and the Brewster Conservation Trust–preserving water quality, wildlife habitat and Brewster’s rural character.
–Recent Town open space acquisitions include the 47-acre Robinson Parcel. Conservation restrictions are proposed on parts of both Sea Camps properties.
Please contact Mary to share your thoughts, plan a time to talk or support the campaign.
Mary loves talking about Brewster!
